Proposed Legislation and Licensing Could Save Millions of Animals in New York State

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Monday, 14 May 2001

ASPCA spearheads bill known as the Dog Enumeration Bill.

The ASPCA will host a press conference on Friday, May 18, 2001 at Detmold Park, 51ST and Beekman Place calling on New Yorkers to unite against pet overpopulation. Mary Tyler Moore will join ASPCA President & CEO Dr. Larry Hawk in announcing two pieces of legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Pete Grannis (D-NYC), that could reduce the pet overpopulation crisis in the state and bring much needed funding to state shelters.

The first piece of legislation spearheaded by the ASPCA known as the Dog Enumeration Bill (A.8382/S.4910) would provide better enforcement of dog licensing laws in New York State. Currently over half of the owned dogs in the state are not licensed resulting in a loss of revenue of approximately $14 million dollars a year. These funds would go directly to the care of homeless animals in our state shelters and to The Animal Population Control Program which provides state residents with low cost spaying and neutering.

The second piece of legislation, Spay/Neuter Bill (A.229/S.3556A) would require all state shelters and humane societies to spay and neuter before releasing animals to their newly adopted homes.

In addition to the proposed legislation, The ASPCA has launched an advertising campaign featuring the message - "NY loves K9s." The purpose of the ad is to urge New Yorkers to license their dogs and to alert them that doing so can help animals less fortunate. The ads will appear beginning on Friday, May 18, 2001 in The New York Times and will also be featured in the Albany Times Union.

Celebrity dog "Rags" from ABC's Spin City will be joining Mary Tyler Moore and The ASPCA to do his part in supporting the cause by assisting volunteers in their grassroot efforts of handing out dog license applications.

For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org